Cricket Australia team performance boss Pat Howard says he spoke to Stuart Clark, the Sydney Sixers supremo, as far back as August about the prospect of withdrawing Shane Watson midway through the Twenty20 Champions League.

Clark was left furious by the decision to send Watson back to Australia after the Sixers' third match in South Africa on Thursday in an effort to avoid the all-rounder breaking down prior to the upcoming Test series against the Proteas. The former Test fast bowler was particularly aggrieved at what he regarded as a last-minute call, having added Watson to his squad for the purpose of having him available if the Sixers reached the Champions League, where the winner's prize is $US2.5 million ($2.45m).

Cricket Australia's general manager, Pat Howard. Photo: Pat Scala

Howard, however, said on today he had discussed the matter with Clark in August. "Stuart and I first met in August and said we're monitoring these workloads very closely and we're across this," Howard said.

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"He's right the final decision wasn't made until recently. This is a very big series against South Africa - Shane is an important cog for the national selection panel to have consideration of and the reality is you can't play all the games in all the tournaments all the time. The fact that he's an all-rounder makes him a pretty unique proposition.

"We're trying to avoid the same mistakes that we made 12 months ago.

"Stuart and I have been talking and it has been reasonable. Outside the limelight it's been a fairly cordial conversation.

"I know this debate could keep going on but the reality is we've made a decision in the best interests of Australian cricket and in the best interests of Shane Watson."

Howard and national selection chief insisted the all-rounder and vice-captain "needed some red ball cricket" before the first Test in Brisbane on November 9. That may come in a second XI game, the Australia A contest against South Africa in Sydney starting November 2 or or Sheffield Shield encounter between NSW and Queensland in Brisbane beginning the same day.

"There is cricket there to get him ready and raring and be available come November 9," Howard said.

Inverarity said a selection planning meeting held on Monday had all but finalised the first Test squad and no final decision had been made on whether Matthew Wade or Brad Haddin would be wicketkeeper.

"I'd say that we're well prepared and we're planning to announce that side on the 30th or 31st of October," he said.